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Substance use and schizophrenia: effects on symptoms, social functioning and service use

University Department of Psychological Medicine, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0XH, UK.

Correspondence: Tel: 0141 211 3927; fax: 0141 357 4899; e-mail r.cantwell{at}clinmed.gla.ac.uk

Declaration of interest None. This study was supported by the Chief Scientist Office for Scotland.

Background Studies examining the effects of substance use in patients with schizophrenia have produced conflicting results.

Aims To examine the effects of comorbid substance use on symptoms, social functioning and service use in patients with schizophrenia.

Method Patients (n=316) with and without substance use problems from three centres participating in the Scottish Comorbidity Study were compared, using research interviews and case note review, on measures of symptoms, social functioning and service use.

Results Patients with substance use problems were younger, more likely to be male and had shorter duration of illness. They had more police contact and increased self-reported needs, but otherwise showed few differences when compared with those without such problems.

Conclusions The presence of problem substance use had only modest impact on service use, symptoms or social functioning for this group of patients with schizophrenia. This has important implications for service development to meet the perceived needs of this group.

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